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Filling in the Knitting Blanks

I've been doing some knitting, but haven't been too diligent about keeping the blog updated, so here goes.  It seems a little frivolous to babble about knitting when so many people have been devastated in Japan, so I'll pass on a small way to help that I learned about this morning.  I went online to the Red Cross to donate and after I did that, I visited my forums on Ravelry.  Little Knits is a yarn shop in Seattle with a large online business.  There was a thread in the group today regarding Japan, so I read it.  The owner of Little Knits announced that she would match donations for people who had no corporate matches and donate up to $10,000.  So I emailed the Red Cross with the matching information and also advised Little Knits so my donation amount could be double checked.  I know there are lots of worthy organizations to which to donate, but the Red Cross is a great one and doubling my money was a welcome opportunity.

So back to knitting.  When last we visited, I was hoping to finish my Geodesic Cardigan.  I did get it finished; there were a few issues but luckily the "problem" areas are hidden from general view, and I'm pretty pleased with how it came out.  Here's my "set the camera up and run in front of it" photo.



The sock that used to be a mitten is coming along finally.  I'm making the Vellamo Socks (Ravelry link) and they're a nice combination of colorwork and stripes.  The first sock isn't perfect; this is my first attempt at a short row heel and I also haven't made a striped sock before (without using self-striping yarn.)  I've successfully avoided the jog in the stripes, but am having a little trouble where I carry one color up behind the other.  I'm using this first sock as an experiment and hopefully will hit on a successful technique to use for the second.



I finished spinning the nummanumma fiber and am pretty happy with the way it came out.  I think it's about 500 yards and looks like I got a pretty good continuum of color.  I'm thinking about what small shawl will be best for it.



A bit of startitis has happened.  In addition to the sock, I've started a sweater and a shawl.  I spun some BFL/Silk last summer and intended to use it all along for the Tappan Zee cardigan.  I carefully three plyed the yarn to avoid striping but the way the two braids were dyed resulted in yarn that differed quite a bit in color.  So I decided to alternate skeins to mix up the colors, which of course makes it look stripey, but I'm going to knit for awhile and see how I like it.



I bought some Madelinetosh Pashmina with a gift certificate I had to The Loopy Ewe courtesy of my friend Goatlady.  For some reason I really wanted to start a project with this yarn and picked the Cedar Leaf Shawlette.  I'm enjoying working with the yarn a lot; it's really soft and pretty.  This pattern is using the dreaded wrap and turn short rows, though, and I think I've been doing them incorrectly.  I'm hoping that when I pick up the wraps it will all work out.  It's always something!



Tomorrow I'm off to Vegas with the Princess.  She's been here for a few days and I'm going back with her to see her doctor.  She's still having problems; we're hoping to get a handle on it this time.

One last thing - this morning I went out of the gate and saw the coolest flower on a vine growing up the wall outside out courtyard.  I have no idea what this it (anyone know?) but I was fascinated.



 


 

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